Cleveland (Oct. 11, 2024) – The Land will be rocking as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony makes its return to Downtown next week. Even without a ticket to the big show, there is ample opportunity for locals and visitors to celebrate the area’s musical heritage, the history of the city where the term rock ‘n’ roll was coined and this year’s class of rock royalty.
Interactive Public Art: The streets of Downtown Cleveland are the perfect stage for public art installations that celebrate this year’s inductees. Three “Harmonies” sculptures and Destination Cleveland’s colorful “Badge” sculptures all bring a creative and interactive touch to the music of this year’s class – pumping out inductees’ tunes when visitors turn a crank on each sculpture. And the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll is always on display thanks to the seven Rock Boxes set up along East 9th Street, offering a soundtrack that leads the way to the world’s-only Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Cleveland’s Musical Greats: Cleveland is the home of rock ‘n’ roll history, and it’s all thanks to a local radio personality. DJ Alan Freed used the term to describe the emerging music genre in the 1950s. Music lovers can pay homage to Freed at Lake View Cemetery, where his jukebox-shaped gravestone stands as a permanent tribute to his influence on American culture. Just steps away is the final resting place of Northeast Ohio’s own rock ‘n’ roll icon, Michael Stanley – frontman of the Michael Stanley Band and another longtime Cleveland radio DJ.
Live Music and Vinyl Adventures Passport: A guided exploration to all things music in The Land, the Live Music and Vinyl Adventures Passport offers a collection of more than 40 live music venues, music-centric experiences and record stores across Cleveland. As users fill up their concert calendar and vibe to the latest vinyl offerings, they’ll collect points at each stop which can be traded in for Cleveland-branded prizes – no long lines at the merch table required. (Pro tip: Music lovers can visit HelloCleveland.live for the full lineup of upcoming concerts across Cleveland’s various live music venues.)
Induction Week Excitement: Before the 2024 Inductees take the stage at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Oct. 19, locals can enjoy a week of celebration at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It kicks off with Celebration Day on Oct. 13, which features free admission for all Ohioans and special offerings such as live music, “From the Vault” displays, a custom poster printing and early exploration of the new inductee exhibit. Other highlights of the week include a concert from Speedy Ortiz at the Rock Hall on Wednesday and the 2024 Signature Plaque dedication on Friday, where some of this year’s inductees will deliver remarks to celebrate the new class of rock icons.
Beyond Rock ‘n’ Roll: Cleveland’s musical roots run deeper than just rock ‘n’ roll. Whether it’s enjoying live jazz during community jam sessions at Bop Stop, getting down with disco at Goodnight John Boy or singing along to showtunes at Playhouse Square, there’s something for musical tastes of all types in The Land. And don’t forget the cherry on top for classical music fans: the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra, whose performances at the stunning Severance Music Center are as much a treat for the eyes as they are for the ears.
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ABOUT DESTINATION CLEVELAND: Destination Cleveland is Cleveland’s destination marketing and management organization. The private, non-profit organization’s mission is to stimulate economic growth by attracting people and connecting them to experiences that illustrate Cleveland’s diversity, creativity and contagious passion. In 2023, visitation increased for the third straight year to 18.34 million visits. For more information, visit www.thisiscleveland.com.